[08. 23. 2002]
The BBC is presenting a photo essay by photo journalist Jeroen Bouman. In it, Bouman takes a look inside the "illegal Chinese workshops where young teenagers work long hours amid
noxious fumes, recycling computers from the US and Europe." While this isn't something new, what's startling is that nothing's changed.
(Read More)
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), global music sales fell 5 percent in value and 6.5 percent in units
in 2001. Sales this year continue to decline and studies project that
they'll decline 6 percent in 2003. What's the cause? Contrary to what the RIAA would have you believe, it's not the result of Internet music-file swapping. A new article explains
that the industry is suffering "from its near-monopolistic control." See if you agree.
(Read More)
[08. 22. 2002]
According to a BBC article, Hollywood is considering abandoning DVD Region Codes because "so many DVD manufacturers have deliberately undermined the system" by offering cheat codes
which "enable retailers or buyers to alter their machines to play DVDs from any region." Until this happens, I will not buy any DVD or DVD player.
(Read More)
Looks like the RIAA will be getting their way afterall. John Malcolm, a deputy assistant attorney general, announced that the DoJ
is preparing to prosecute copyright offenders under the No Electronic Theft ("NET") Act. Under the act, it is "a
federal crime to share copies of copyrighted products such as software, movies or music with anyone, even friends or family members, if the value of the work exceeds $1,000." How will
they locate the offenders? By using a part of the DMCA, copyright owners can subpoena
Internet service providers and order them to turn over information about a subscriber.
The RIAA announced on Wednesday that they are dropping the suit against several Internet service and network providers because the Listen4ever site
has been shut down. The suit was filed because the RIAA were unable to locate the operator of the site. So instead, it [the RIAA] decided to sue ISPs for offering access to the site.
(RIAA Press Release)
[08. 18. 2002]
They never cease to amaze me. On Friday, members of the RIAA sued several Internet service and network providers "alleging their routing systems allow users to access the China-based
Listen4ever Web site and unlawfully copy musical recordings." The suit seeks a court order "requiring the defendants to block Internet communications
that travel through their systems to and from the Listen4ever site." If you haven't figured it out yet, this is censorship. I would've expected
this from China, but the US? Besides, AT&T, Sprint, WorldCom, et al. are not required to protect the copyrights of the RIAA. What's next, RIAA members suing power companies for providing
electricity to our computers which are used to download the music? And while they're at it they might as well sue the computer manufacturers, too.
(Read More)
[08. 16. 2002]
It appears that Senator Kevin Murray, "at the request of artist representatives," has decided not to push forward with Senate Bill 1246.
However, Murray did say that he plans to inroduce a comprehensive bill next year which would among other things deal with the length of recording contracts and health-care and pension benefits.
Internet piracy not the cause of the slump in music sales? Could this be right? According to a Forrester Research report, it found "no evidence of decreased CD buying among frequent consumers
of digital music." Josh Bernoff, the company's principal analyst, said: "There is no denying that times are tough for the music business, but not because of downloading." The report found
that "competition from other media and the economic downturn are more likely causes for a fall in music sales" NOT piracy. Someone should forward this report to the RIAA as it backs
up what we've said before.
(Read More)
[08. 14. 2002]
Despite many vigorous objections, Attorney General Ashcroft finalized on Monday Bush Administration plans to fingerprint and track immigrants and visitors to the United States. According to
the ACLU, the plan would "require hundreds of thousands of lawful visitors - including those already in the country -- from a list of predominantly Muslim nations to provide fingerprints to
authorities upon arrival and register with the Immigration and Naturalization Service after 30 days in the country. Visitors who fail to do either of these things face fines or even
deportation."
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last week finalized their HIPAA medical privacy rule. One drastic change to the rule is the
elimination of the "patient consent requirement and opens the door for the use of people's medical records for marketing purposes without notice or consent."
This chart explains the final modified marketing provisions.
[08. 10. 2002]
Following in the footsteps of the U.S., the European Union has released its consultation paper
on the implementation of their European Copyright Directive (ECD), the EU's legislative equivalent to the US's DMCA.
Expect the EU to have its own DMCA-like law implemented by the end of 2002 as the "legislators are hurrying this through by Christmas."
Such draconian laws are the result of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). WTO + WIPO = DMCA.
Should we be surprised? After another internal audit of its financial statements, WorldCom on Thursday reported
that it had discovered yet another "accounting error," this time in reported earnings for 1999, 2000, 2001, and the first quarter of 2002 in the amount of $3.3 billion. This is in addition
to the previously reported $3.8 billion, bringing the total to more than $7 billion. "Accounting error?" More like "criminal fraud with full intent" to me. WorldCom also warned that "additional
amounts of improperly reported EBITDA and pretax income may be discovered and announced."
As if the Justice Department didn't already have better things to do with its time, 19 lawmakers have asked Attorney General John Ashcroft to "go after Internet users who download unauthorized
songs and other copyrighted material." But it doesn't stop there. They also want him to go after "peer-to-peer" networks like Kazaa and Morpheus. The lawmakers also recommended that the Justice
Department "devote more resources to policing online copyrights."
PG&E and its bedfellows are attempting to rollback a crucial law that promotes the use of solar power to meet the state of California's power needs.
(Read More)
[08. 09. 2002]
The RIAA on Wednesday announced that it was going to file a court appeal of the Librarian
of Congress's decision on new royalty rates for Internet radio. Despite putting webcasters like
SomaFM, Tag's Trance Trip, Monkey Radio, and many
others out of business, the RIAA is still complaining that the rates are too low because it significantly undervalues the music used by Internet radio companies. Meanwhile,
over 20 net broadcasters on Wednesday filed an appeal arguing that the rates are too high.
Familiar with the U.S. Department of Justice's Terrorism Information and Prevention System (TIPS)? Well, Salon.com
on Tuesday revealed that those who call to report "suspicious, and potentially terrorist-related activity"
were getting their calls forwarded to Fox's America's Most Wanted. If the government having citizens spy on each other to "combat terrorism" isn't
scary enough, then how about having America's Most Wanted run the show? TIPS is a terrible program as many people risk being wrongly fingered. And once someone gets blacklisted/blackballed,
their lives will be ruined.
(Read More)
[08. 07. 2002]
KROQ's Inland Invasion show has been scheduled for September 14, 2002. Tickets go on sale to the public this Saturday, August 10, 2002. However, there will be an Internet Pre-sale
this Thursday, August 8, 2002 at Noon. Just go to http://www.ticketmaster.com and search for Inland Invasion under Events.
Go to Blockbuster Pavilion, Sat. 9/14, and select Find Tickets. In the Pre-sale Password box, enter: THE909
There will be a 4-ticket limit per person. Tickets are $35 including parking and venue fees. The Pre-sale ends Thursday, August 8, 2002 at 5:00 PM or when the Pre-sale ticket
allocation is gone.
The line-up includes:
- Sex Pistols
- Blink-182
- The Offspring
- Pennywise
- Social Distortion
- Bad Religion
- X
- The Damned
- Buzzcocks
- T.S.O.L.
- Circle Jerks
- The Vandals
- The Distillers
- Adolescents
- GBH
- Unwritten Law
- New Found Glory
